Office: Attorney General
Michael Gates
- Political Party:
Republican
- Ballot Designation:
Deputy United States Attorney
- Law Enforcement Contributions:
Garden Grove Police Association
- Background:
Gates is the former City Attorney of Orange County and currently serves as a Trump administration Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Public Safety Platform:
Gates is a self-described “champion for police officers,” stating on his campaign website: “As City Attorney, Michael became known for a tough, hands-on approach to public safety. He established Huntington Beach’s first-ever local Criminal Prosecutor Program in 2017 in response to Sacramento’s ongoing attack on law enforcement and the criminal justice system. The program emphasized prosecuting misdemeanors with the same seriousness as felonies, supporting law enforcement, and restoring quality of life.”
Public Safety is listed as a priority on his campaign website, where Gates promises to: “Prioritize prosecution of violent and repeat offenders; Enforce existing laws that Sacramento refuses to enforce; [and] Restore accountability throughout the criminal justice system.”
He additionally promises to fully implement Prop 36, which seeks “to enhance law enforcement and increase penalties for certain crimes,” stating that “crime will be illegal again.”
He is endorsed by several county sheriffs and police associations.
- Website: